The Next Morning...
Max: Dad, I'm going on a trip with Leo, Matthew, and Nina.
John: Where to?
Max: To London.
John (suspiciously): And what about your studies?
Max: Dad, it's Thursday. We're leaving today and will be back Saturday.
John: So, a weekend trip?
Max: Exactly.
Suddenly, Matthew bursts in:
Matthew: Did he say yes?! Did he?!
Max (annoyed): How can you just barge in like that?!
Matthew (grinning): Sorry, I couldn't wait.
Max: Crazy as always.
Matthew (laughs): Haha! Tell me, did he say yes or not?!
John (smiling): Why wouldn't I? Of course my son can go.
Matthew (cheering): Wooow! I'll go tell Leo and Nina right now!
(Matthew runs out excitedly while Max shakes his head with a small smile.)
⸻
A few hours later, they arrive in London...
Maria: How about we go out for a walk?
Julie: Of course, darling!
Maria: Where to?
Julie: Anywhere you like.
Maria: What about the cinema?
Julie: Great idea! Go get ready. Wait—where's Julia?
Maria: In her room.
Julie: Go ask her to come with us.
Maria: Okay!
(In Julia's room)
Maria (calling): Julia! Juliaaa!
(Julia was crying but quickly wiped her tears when she heard Maria.)
Maria: Come on, get ready so we can go out together.
Julia (quietly): I don't want to go.
Maria (confused): Why not?
Julia: I... I just don't want to.
Maria: Okay, as you wish.
(Maria returns to Julie looking puzzled.)
Maria: Julie, I have a feeling today is going to be very special. I feel extremely happy!
Julie (smiling): I wish you happiness always, my dear.
Maria: Come on, get ready so we're not late.
Julie: I will. You too!
⸻
Max: I feel oddly happy today and I don't know why.
Leo (teasing): Maybe because you'll see Maria.
Max: I hope so.
(Nina felt a little jealous but hid it from Max.)
Nina: Come on, guys! Let's enjoy this trip.
An hour later...
Maria: Let's go shopping!
Julie: Let's do it!
(At a nearby market)
Nina (shouting): Maxyyy!
Maria (turning quickly): Max!
(She looks around but sees no one.)
Maria: I must be imagining things.
Julie: What's wrong?
Maria: I heard someone say "Maxy" and it reminded me of Max... I feel like he's very close.
Julie (reassuringly): Maybe it's just a feeling, sweetheart.
(Elsewhere nearby)
Max: Why do I feel like Maria is close by?
Matthew: You're probably imagining it.
Max: Maybe.
Nina: I'm going to try on this dress.
Leo: I'll look for something for myself.
Matthew: I'll grab some food. You coming, Max?
Max: Yeah, I'll come with you.
(At the restaurant)
Matthew: What'll you eat?
Max: I'm not hungry.
Matthew: You sure?
Max: Yeah.
Matthew: Okay, wait here. I'll be right back.
(After ten minutes, Max gets bored.)
Max: I'll go check on Leo and Nina.
(While walking, he bumps into someone.)
Maria (angrily): Can't you watch where you're going?!
Max (annoyed): You too—
(He pauses, recognizing the voice.)
Max (shocked): M-Maria?!
Maria (starting to cry): Max!!!
Julie (arriving, stunned): W-What? How is this possible?!
Maria (crying): Max, my love, you're alive! How?!
Max (confused): What are you saying?
Matthew (arriving): Max! Didn't I tell you you'd see her?!
Maria (through tears): Why didn't you tell me you were alive?!
Max: Who told you I was dead?!
Maria: J-Julia told me that.
Max (furious): Julia?! How could she lie about that?!
Maria: She said you had an accident and died.
Max: I did have an accident—but she lied.
Julie: Maybe because she hates you? I've noticed her anger toward Maria ever since your relationship began.
Maria: But why does she hate him?
Max: Because of what happened with Alonso.
Maria: But I've moved past that.
Max: She hasn't.
(Leo and Nina arrive.)
Leo: Julie!
Julie (runs to him): Leo!
(They hug lovingly.)
Julie: I missed you!
Leo: I missed you more.
Nina (jealously): And who are they?
Max (grinning): Nina, this is Maria... my fiancée.
Maria (showing her ring): I've never taken this ring off since that day.
Max: And neither have I. You're coming back to Mexico with me—let's get married.
Maria (excited): Of course!
(They embrace tightly, full of longing.)
Nina (hiding jealousy): Hello, I'm Nina, Max's friend.
Maria (smiling): Nice to meet you.
Matthew (angrily): I want to see Julia right now! She needs a lesson.
Maria (calmly): Matthew, calm down. We'll talk to her peacefully.
Matthew: Peacefully? Look what she did to you!
Maria: Come with us, we'll face her together.
Matthew (reluctantly): Fine. But if she doesn't confess, I'll never forgive her.
(Back at the house)
Matthew (furious): Get out of your room now! FAST!
Maria (softly): Matthew, don't yell.
Matthew (stubbornly): No! I will yell!
(Julia opens the door, startled.)
Julia: What's going on?! Matthew? Max? Leo?
Matthew (stepping forward): How could you?!
Julia (nervously): W-What?
Matthew: Tell me—why did you want to separate them?!
Julia (evading): Who? I don't know what you mean.
Matthew: Don't act dumb! You know exactly who!
Julia (nervously): I... I don't know what you're talking about.
Matthew: Julia! Talk now!
(Julia steps back, scared, then lowers her head and speaks softly.)
Julia: Yes... yes, I tried to separate them.
(Everyone is shocked—especially Maria.)
Maria (hurt): Why, Julia?!
Julia (defensive): Because Max is a criminal... a killer.
Matthew (angrily): That was the past! He's moved on.
Julia: How could I let Maria marry someone like that?!
Matthew: Haven't you realized he's changed?!
Julia (hesitant): M-Maybe...
(Maria steps back, tearful.)
Maria (heartbroken): How could someone I considered family do this to me?
Julia (approaching): Maria, please, I was thinking of your best interest.
Maria (firmly): My best interest? My best interest is to be with the one I love—not someone who lies to keep him away!
(Julia turns to Max, trying to apologize.)
Julia: Max, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to hurt you.
Max (coldly): Sorry? Do you think that fixes everything?! You lied to both of us and caused so much pain.
Matthew (angrily): Of course they won't forgive you! How dare you?!
Julia (sadly): I was just scared for Maria.
Matthew: She's past all that. You should've trusted her.
(Maria takes a deep breath and quietly says:)
Maria: Excuse me...
(Max grabs her hand.)
Max: Where are you going?
Maria: I just need some air.
Max: I'm coming with you.
Maria (smiles faintly): Okay.
(They leave, leaving behind a room filled with tension.)
⸻
(On the balcony)
Maria (gently): Can I hug you?
Max (smiling): Of course, my love.
(She hugs him tightly, tears flowing.)
Max (worried): Are you crying?
Maria (tearfully): How could she hide this from me?! I thought she was my sister.
Max (wiping her tears): Don't cry, love. A real sister wouldn't do that.
Maria: And you... why didn't you call me?
Max: I did! So many times—but your phone was always off.
Maria: I forgot I changed my number. But I called you, and a girl answered.
Max (shocked): A girl?!
Maria: Yes.
Max: When was this?
Maria: Two days ago.
Max (thinking): Could it be... you?!
Maria (confused): What?!
(Max shows her his phone.)
Max: Is this your number?
Maria: Yes.
Max (smiling): Then you did call me.
Maria: Y-Yes.
Max (playfully): And I still didn't think of you?
Maria (grinning): Because you're an idiot.
Max: What?!
Maria: I said—you're an idiot!
(Max glares playfully, then starts tickling her.)
Maria (laughing): Max! Stop! Nooo!
Max: Who's the idiot now, huh?!
Maria: No, I was joking! I'm the idiot, not you... you're my love.
Max (laughing softly): That's more like it.
Maria (eager): I want to go out.
Max: We'll go buy things for our wedding.
Maria (excited): Finally! I've waited so long for this day.
Max: Let's go.
(He holds her hand and they walk off, surprising everyone.)
Julie (pretending to be upset): Hey! You can't just take her without my permission!
Max (confidently): She's mine now. She deserves everything you used to stop her from having.
Julie: She's not your wife yet, idiot!
Maria (laughs): Oh my God, looks like you're in big trouble now, Julie.
Julie (challenging): Why?
Maria: What did you just call Max?
Julie: An idiot?
Maria: Yup, that's what you said.
(Max looks at Julie with an angry gaze, but she laughs instead of being scared.)
Julie (smiling): Am I supposed to be afraid?
Maria (annoyed): Why?!
Julie (surprised): What?
Maria: When I told him he's a idiot he tickled me!
Julie (laughing): Darling, you're different to him. He can do whatever he wants with you. One day he tickles you, the next day he looks at you with anger... but his angry looks make me laugh instead of scare me.
Maria (looking at Max): Is that true?
Max (pretending not to care): Maybe.
Maria (sarcastically): So, she's right?! Idiot.
(Maria quickly runs away before Max can react, but he chases her and grabs her, then surprises her with a kiss in front of everyone.)
Matthew (embarrassed): We're here!
(Maria gets embarrassed and lowers her head.)
Maria (in a low voice): Max...
Max (confidently): Let's go.
Julie (eagerly): Wait! Where to?
Maria: Not your business.
Julie (pretending to be upset): Of course, it's none of my business. You're with Max now, and you'll forget about me.
Maria (smiling): Don't say that. You're my sister. We're going to buy our wedding supplies.
Julie (with a childish face): I want to come with you!
Maria: Max?
Max (agreeing): Of course, how could she not? She's the bride's sister, and it's her right to come with us to choose her sister's wedding dress.
Julie (happily): I love you guys!
Maria (laughing): Ahem, ahem!
Julie (laughing): I mean, I love you!
Maria: Okay, let's go.
(Max grabs Maria's hand, and they all leave together except Julia.)
—
(At the market)
Maria: We're going to this store to choose the wedding dress.
Max (eagerly): Hey, hey, wait! I'm coming with you.
Maria (smiling): But, darling, I want to surprise you.
Max (jokingly): But I know that without me, you'll pick something... inappropriate!
Julie (interrupting quickly): Of course, I won't let her pick anything inappropriate.
Max (relieved): Well done, Julie.
Julie (confidently): I know that very well.
Max (turning to Nina): Nina, go with them.
Nina (hesitant): Hmm... Okay.
Max (smiling): Don't be scared, they're kind and won't eat you.
Julie (side glance): 🙂🙂... Let's go, Nina. Let's go, Maria.
(At the store with the guys.)
Matthew: What color will you wear?
Max: Maria's favorite color... navy blue.
(At the store, with Julie and Maria)
Julie: What color will you wear?
Maria: Max's favorite color... black.
Julie (shocked): Are you crazy?!
Maria (laughing): I was just kidding. Max likes many colors, including black. But I won't wear black. Among the colors he likes, there's white, and that's the color I'll wear.
Nina: And that's the color the bride usually wears.
Maria: Yes, I know that.
(After hours of searching)
Julie (exhausted): I'm so tired of you, Maria! Nothing we've picked is good enough for you.
Maria (disappointed): I don't know...
Nina (pulling out a dress): What do you think of this one?
Maria (surprised): Wow!
Julie (sighing in relief): Finally...
Maria (hesitant): No, no, this design is old-fashioned.
Julie (angrily): Mariaaaaa!
(Max calls to check in.)
Max: Are you done yet?
Julie (complaining): Not yet!
Max (surprised): Really?!
Julie (giving in): Please, come quickly!
Max: I'll be there right away.
—
(At the store)
Max (firmly): Maria!
Maria (disappointed): Darling, I didn't like anything here.
Max (sarcastically): I'll slap you, believe me!
Maria (childishly angry): Why? Because I didn't like something?
Max: Yes, because you're making it so complicated.
Maria (with a mischievous smile): What if I want you to pick the dress for me?
Max (surprised): Why didn't you tell me this from the start?
Maria (teasing): 🤭
Maria: Show me now what you've bought.
Max: No.
Maria (in a spoiled voice): Darling...
Max: No.
Maria (begging): Please!
Max: No.
Maria (with a childish face): 🥺
Max (giving in): Fine...
Maria (excited): 👏🏼 It's... it's... wow, it's amazing!
Matthew (boasting): We know, this was picked by me and Leo.
Max (giving him a sharp look): Stop lying!
Matthew (trying to defend himself): I'm not lying!
Max (threatening): 😒
Matthew (giving up): Okay, fine, I'm lying.
Maria (firmly): Enough fighting, now help me choose the dress.
(After trying on all the dresses in the store)
Maria (complaining): I don't like any of them.
Max (exhausted): Maria, please have mercy on me!
Maria (thinking): What if we go to another store?
Everyone (in unison): Noooooo!
Maria (angrily): Fine, I'll go alone. You're useless!
(Maria leaves angrily, and everyone looks at each other in confusion.)
-
To be continued...
⸻
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